KOTA KINABALU, Oct 20 – Daved Simpat retained the Men’s Veteran title in the 32nd Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon as foreign athletes dominated the Elite categories.
Daved, a porter, completed the 26km race up and down at Mount Kinabalu in a time of in 3:50.50s.
Fellow local runners Raichim Sungkit in 3:58.15s and Safrey Sumping in 3:59.42s completed the top three in the veteran categories.
“I’m truly happy with this victory. I drew on my experience from previous years. This time, it was more challenging with many strong international runners.
“I learned a lot from how they manage their stamina and pacing. At 43, my message to other runners is never to give up, even when the competition is tough.
“Keep working hard, stay confident, and don’t lose your passion for the sport,” said Daved.
Meanwhile, the Elite races for men and women were dominated by international runners, achieving a record-breaking performance in the new and more challenging course introduced last year.
Italian runners secured a top three finishes in the Men’s Elite, with Gianluca Ghiano winning in 3:05.41s.
William Boffelli in 3:05.41s and Luca Del Pero in 3:15.07s came in second and third respectively.
“It was an incredible race and the weather was amazing,” Ghiano said.
“The most challenging part was the last few kilometres on the road … I had to push hard. I thought about all my idols who have raced here, like Kilian (Jornet Burgada) and Bruno Brunod, so I’m very happy and proud to win on the same course.
“It’s my first time here and this victory is special for me,” added the Men’s Elite winner.
Anastasiia Rubstova Yurievna from Russia emerged as the Women’s Elite champion, finishing in 3:46.13s.
Ainara Alcuaz Rodriguez of Spain (4:12.39s) and Lina Klara Emilia El Kott Helander of Sweden (4:27.48s) finished second and third respectively.
“I’m very happy with today’s race. When I reached the top of the mountain, the rocks and views were so beautiful, it was incredible,” she said.
“It’s my first time racing in Sabah and the experience was amazing. The course was tough but manageable because I studied the GPS track and knew what to expect.
“I really enjoyed it. I love high altitudes and the challenge of pushing uphill,” she added.
Recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark, the race featured a 24.5 km course, including a 12.25 km ascent to Mount Kinabalu’s 4,095.2 m summit, followed by a 12.25 km technical descent.
Participants faced steep inclines, rugged terrain and demanding conditions, making the event a true test of endurance and resilience.
This year’s edition welcomed participants from 27 countries, including Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Italy, Russia and the United States.
The international field included Skyrunner World Series competitors, adding a competitive edge to the elite categories.
Flagged off at 6:30am by Hisham Ujang, the Chief Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, the Climbathon showcased the beauty of Kinabalu Park while celebrating athletic excellence and sportsmanship.
This year’s race is part of the Skyrunning World Series circuit, with the final round set to take place in Spain on November 8.
It is also an ITRA-recognised event, which allows runners to earn official points for completing the course.
Julinus Jeffrey Jimit, the CEO of Sabah Tourism Board said, “We are thrilled to see the new course introduced last year, challenging athletes in fresh ways.
“Their record-breaking achievements reflect the world-class potential of Mount Kinabalu as a global sporting destination.
“Looking ahead, we are pleased to announce that the next edition of the Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon will be held on October 18, 2026, in conjunction with the ‘Explore Sabah’ and ‘Visit Malaysia 2026’ campaigns by the Sabah Tourism Board and Tourism Malaysia, respectively,” he added.
This event was organised by the Sabah Tourism Board through its subsidiary Sri Pelancongan Sabah, in collaboration with Sabah Parks.
It is fully supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah and as part of the lead-up to the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
The event is made possible through strong partnerships with BigBigPlace, K2, Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, Truly Borneo Tours & Events, ALTRA, ZEAK, Evenesis (Event Registration Technology), Arus Foods, and Gretel (Race Strategy Technology).
